Inevitable process: Armenia set to withdraw from Azerbaijan’s lands

Not only military staff, but also the local population are involved in this work. The news was presented to Armenian society almost with enthusiasm. They say even if Azerbaijan beats them in the first defense line, there will be second defense line in reserve. Azerbaijani blitzkrieg will ostensibly not work as the occupying army will retreat to the spare position. The euphoria is fueled by a need to confront "aggressive rhetoric of Baku" who reportedly is going to organize a march and reach Armenia’s frontiers already in spring.

Recently, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting. He and the military staff stated that the Armenian army is capable to withstand any challenges. Armenian media happily sighed. All experts spoke of a possible help by Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Russian, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan to protect their CSTO partner Armenia from the "bloodthirsty Azerbaijan.” Ordinary residents of the neighboring country assured that their state is preparing for a major war together with partners as evidenced by these trenches.

This is a very strange logic. Pan Armenian campaign against illiteracy is needed in this regard.

One should not rule out possibility of renewed hostilities either. Azerbaijan does not exclude such scenario of events. It has a full right to do so. But it still communicates unwilling to see victims, because it believes in victory of a reason. Most importantly, we already see some progress which shows success of diplomacy. Want proof? Gentlemen, these are the very trenches you are digging. They are dug and fortified not in wartime, but in process of peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Armenia is set to return occupied lands under pressure. This was inevitable. There is nothing surprising about it.

Perhaps, few people know about it in Yerevan. So, I will point out everything in detail: all the previously submitted and currently debated proposals by co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group call for complete withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from Azerbaijan’s lands. Moreover, under the proposals, local forces of the Karabakh Armenians must depart from the southern and eastern areas to the limits of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region. Both package of  proposals and proposals to solve the conflict step-by-step contained these conditions.
 
The so-called Madrid principles are being considered currently. So, withdrawal of troops in that order is the first step in a peace settlement. It will be followed (if the parties agree as we already notice understanding) deployment of peacekeepers, demilitarization of the region, repatriation of of IDPs to their places of permanent residence, opening communication and discussing status of Karabakh.

Let’s have a commonplace look at the situation. What do we see? Armenians are digging trenches around the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region. Will the western neighbors be delighted at that? Of course, yes. They will finally get rid of a conflict which has driven Armenia in a difficult position.

Azerbaijani citizens will also feel happy. Their endurance gave real results. All the same, they were able to achieve their target.

It is no accident that we all are going to witness significant progress in resolving the Karabakh conflict soon. After all, we have a clear indicator - Armenians are digging trenches and ditches, narrowing the area of the occupied territory.
 
Kanan Guluzade
Day.Az writer